Broncos running back LenDale White celebrates his 2-yard touchdown in the first quarter against the Steelers on Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton celebrates a touchdown running back with just 3:41 into the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the Bronco's third pre-seaon game Sunday August 29, 2010 at Invesco Field at Mile High. Joe Amon, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos running back LenDale White celebrates his 2 yd touchdown run as the Broncos score first against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the Bronco's third pre-seaon game Sunday August 29, 2010 at Invesco Field at Mile High. John Leyba, The Denver Post

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, left, signals during the first quarter against the Broncos on Sunday.

Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton, right, signals during Denver's opening drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Denver Broncos cornerback Andre' Goodman leaps over the Pittsburgh Steelers' Dennis Dixon for a 77 yd interception runback for a touchdown during the second quarter of the Bronco's third pre-seaon game Sunday August 29, 2010 at Invesco Field at Mile High. Joe Amon, The Denver Post

Denver Broncos fans call for Tim Tebow during the Broncos' game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Bronco's third pre-seaon game Sunday August 29, 2010 at Invesco Field at Mile High. Joe Amon, The Denver Post

Big, bad and occasionally unnecessarily rough James Harrison lowered his strong shoulder into the Broncos’ hopes.

Early in the Broncos’ 34-17 preseason victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers on a warm Sunday night at Invesco Field at Mile High, Harrison was returning a fumble that never was. As the Steelers linebacker scooted down the left sideline, the only Broncos player left to stop him was — uh-oh.

Kyle Orton was NOT going to play Tim Tebow and try to tackle the former NFL defensive player of the year, was he? He was. Regretfully, although not tragically, he did.

“I don’t know if I hit him or he hit me,” Orton said.

Orton dived at Harrison as Harrison dived at Orton, and the collision left the Broncos’ starting quarterback flat and dazed on the sideline, not far from where his teammates and coach Josh McDaniels were holding their collective breath.

“He was running his mouth and getting in the way of the train,” Harrison said. “And the train wasn’t coming off the track.”

Orton, a quarterback, was talking smack to the traditionally rough, tough, hard-hitting Steelers?

“He was popping off down there the first time they were about to score,” Harrison said, referring to the Broncos’ game-opening touchdown drive. “So you run your mouth, expect to get something. Everything’s between the lines, so he got what he had coming.”

Orton told a different timeline. He said he didn’t say anything derogatory to Harrison until after they met.

“Yeah, I said something after he hit me,” Orton said.

All that chaos and ill will came from a play that was overturned from a fumble by receiver Jabar Gaffney to an incomplete pass. An injured Orton would have threatened to doom the Broncos’ 2010 hopes. Or at least put the Tebow Watch on the clock.

But Orton was only hurt, not injured, and got up and walked to the bench. His backup, Brady Quinn, went in for one play. The Steelers blitzed, Quinn was sacked and the Broncos punted.

By the time the Broncos got the ball back, Orton was back in the huddle. Exhale.

By the time the night was finished, Tebow, not Quinn, was Orton’s backup. Rejoice?

At the very least, Tebow’s apparent promotion was a surprise. He missed the previous week’s preseason game against Detroit with bruised ribs. But McDaniels informed Orton’s backups Friday that Tebow would start the second half and play into the fourth quarter, and Quinn would finish.

“The situation is, obviously you can only worry about things you can control,” Quinn said. “I just have to try to get better each day.”

McDaniels has always believed Tebow would be ready sooner than most in the NFL thought. The rookie would reward his coach’s faith against the Steelers.

He did not run, or even scramble. He stood and threw 10 passes, completing five, for 72 yards.

Call Tebow ahead of schedule, with a ways to go. On his first attempt in the fourth quarter, Tebow telegraphed a pass that was intercepted on the run by Crezdon Butler, who nearly returned it for a touchdown.

“I did some good things and bad things,” Tebow said. “I’ve got a lot to work on.”

But after his pick that led to a Steelers touchdown, Tebow displayed a wonderful bout of memory loss. He came back on the next drive to throw a 3-yard touchdown pass to rookie Eric Decker, Tebow’s first scoring throw as a professional.

Tebow, it appears, is the Broncos’ No. 2 quarterback.

Orton’s toughness helped him stay at No. 1. After returning from his time on the sideline, Orton led the team on a long field-goal drive that was helped along by a Harrison unnecessary roughness penalty.

Five goals

How the Broncos fared in their five goals as identified by NFL reporter Mike Klis for their preseason game Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers:

1. Stay healthy

QB Kyle Orton took a hard shot while tackling James Harrison on an apparent fumble return. Orton was dazed, but he returned by the next series.

2. How about a three-and-out?

After allowing at least two first downs — but only three points — on the first three defensive series, the Broncos’ first-team D got its first preseason three-and-out late in first half, then Andre Goodman returned an interception for a TD.

3. Enough Big Ben stories already!

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger played well, completing four passes for 67 yards in one quarter.

4. Is Lance Ball the man?

LenDale White started but must serve a four-game suspension to begin the season. Ball played on all passing downs, an indication he has the coach’s trust if Knowshon Moreno or Correll Buckhalter remains gimpy for the Sept. 12 opener.

5. “O” is for Orton

Orton played well until he misread zone coverage on a two- minute drive. Steelers DB William Gay dropped back to pick him off a slant route.

Mike Klis was with The Denver Post from Jan. 1, 1998 before leaving in 2015 to join KUSA 9News. He covered the Rockies and Major League Baseball until the 2005 All-Star break, when he was asked to start covering the Broncos.

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